Budgie showing potential breeding behavior, is it a female?

[tammy]

Hello. I recently got a partner for one of my older budgies. I got the budgie about 2 weeks ago from a pet store. I know that baby budgies have stripes on their head and i know typically, females have pinkish/brownish ceres. 

I didn't really mind what age/gender the budgie was but lately my two budgies have been feeding each other, the male is constantly following the new budgie and it looked like they wanted to breed. The new budgie keeps digging in her food bowl and in the box bath with herbs i occasionally put up. It looks like she wants to make a nest. Im just worried that if it is a female she might be too young to breed. 

Thank you all!

[Loz]

Welcome Tammy and to your two budgies! What are their names?

Someone more equipped than I will be along to give some advice soon.

[tammy]

Jan 22, 2023 15:50:53 GMT @loz said:

Welcome Tammy and to your two budgies! What are their names?

Someone more equipped than I will be along to give some advice soon.

Hello! Thank you The blue one is Cufta and the Yellow is Lima

[tweetiepiesmom]

I'm not very good about determining the gender of budgies especially the mutation that yours is.

The behavior you describe could also be that they are just excited to have a budgie friend. I have two males and they kiss and feed each other. One digs into the food dishes because that's how he plays. When I initially put them together, they were inseparable, following each other around all the time. The behavior you are seeing is not necessarily nesting/mating behavior.

More experienced folks will be on soon to offer more advice and help with the gender of your new budgie.

[Hezz]

Yes, I would be fairly certain Lima is a hen, how old is another story. The behaviour you describe is also very common in young budgies, so not necessarily breeding/nesting behaviour. Make sure there is nothing in their cage that can be used as a nest - not coconuts, huts, boxes etc and perhaps think about getting some feeders like this, where she can’t fit her whole body into:

www.petshopdirect.com.au/shop/item/jw-insight-clean-cup-feed--water-cup-small/bird-bird-feeders